DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: July 20, 2023

Surat Diamond Bourse: World's largest office complex

Tags: National News

The Surat Diamond Bourse has also surpassed the Pentagon office complex of the US Department of Defense as the world's largest office complex.

An Overview of the news:

• The full functioning of the Surat Diamond Bourse will give a boost to the dynamism and growth of the diamond industry.
• The exchange will serve as a hub of trade, innovation and collaboration, boosting the country's economy and creating over 1.5 lakh jobs.

Inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 21 November:

• Surat Diamond Bourse will start functioning from November 21, 2023. The official inauguration will be done in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

90% of the world's diamonds get their final form in Surat:

• Surat is famous for producing 90 percent of the world's diamonds. According to the Union Ministry of Finance, 14 out of 15 diamonds in the world are finally cut in Surat.

Borse Cost:

• This office complex has been built at a cost of more than Rs 3,000 crore. This Diamond Bourse has been constructed in 6.7 million square feet.

Chief Architect:

• The office complex was designed by Manit Rastogi, founding partner of architecture firm Morphogenesis, who was commissioned following an international design competition.

Complex Structure:

• The Surat Diamond Bourse consists of nine interconnected buildings connected by 24 feet wide spine corridors. Each of these buildings is 15 floors high including the ground floor.
• Each office ranges from 300 to 75,000 square feet in size.
• There is also a 2 million square feet parking area in the basement of the exchange.

Largest group of professionals in the world:

• The complex of 4,500 diamond trading offices is spread over 35.54 acres and can house 67,000 diamond professionals including cutters, polishers and traders.

Security Arrangements of the Bourse:

• The facility has provision for highly secure campus security checkpoints, CCTV surveillance, control room, public announcement system and under car scanners at the entry gates at all entry and exit gates.

IGBC Accredited:

• The Diamond Bourse has been designed to be eco-friendly and has also been given a platinum ranking from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

Design in harmony with nature:

• The shape of the central spine circulates air through the funnel structure to the entire structure, as well as lowering the indoor temperature by circulating chilled water beneath the radiant cooling floor.
• All the offices overlook the landscaped court, designed on the concept of "panchtatva" – the five elements, air, water, fire, earth and sky – which is approximately 200 feet wide and 300 feet long.

Facilities available in the office premises:

• The bourse has many facilities like safe deposit vaults, conference hall, multi-purpose hall, restaurant, bank, customs clearance house, convention centre, exhibition centre, training centre, entertainment zone, restaurant and a club with security plans.

Deliberations in the 19th CGRFA Session

Tags: International News

The 19th session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) is being held in Rome, Italy from 17-21 July.

An Overview of the News 

• The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.

• Topics for discussion: Delegates and observers will focus on three main themes in the session: a review of work on the impact of biodiversity on nutrition and human health, access and benefit-sharing for food and agriculture, and digital sequence information for food and agriculture.

• Director General of FAO - Qi Dongyu

About CGRFA

• It is the only permanent intergovernmental body that addresses all components of biodiversity for food and agriculture.

• It was established in 1983 with the aim of reaching an international consensus on policies for the sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use.

• The commission has 179 member states, making it a globally representative organisation.

• India is one of the member states actively involved in the initiatives of the Commission.

• The intergovernmental body guides the preparation of the Periodic Global Assessment of Genetic Resources and Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.

• It is responsible for developing global plans of action, codes of conduct and other policy tools, and overseeing their implementation.

• Important achievements of the Commission include the establishment of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), which is an important step towards promoting sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring the equitable availability of genetic resources for future generations.

ITPGRFA:

ITPGRFA, or the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, was adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on 3 November 2001. Its main objectives are as follows:

• Recognizing the important role of farmers in maintaining crop diversity, which is vital to feeding the world's population.

• To establish a global system that provides farmers, plant breeders and scientists access to plant genetic resources for agriculture.

• Ensuring that the benefits derived from the use of these genetic resources are shared by the recipients with the countries where the resources originated.

UN report: Only 1% of women live in countries with high gender equality, women empowerment

Tags: Reports

A new global report launched by UN Women and UNDP at the Women Deliver conference highlights the challenges in achieving gender equality and women's empowerment around the world.

An Overview of the News 

• The report introduces two important indices to assess progress in women's human development: the Women's Empowerment Index (WEI) and the Global Gender Equality Index (GGPI).

Women Empowerment Index (WEI)

• It measures the power and independence of women in various dimensions including health, education, inclusion, decision making and violence against women.

• Globally, women achieve only 60% of their full potential, as measured by the WEI.

Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI)

• It evaluates the position of women relative to men in key dimensions of human development, such as health, education, inclusion and decision-making.

• On average, women achieve 72% more than men, reflecting a 28% gender gap.

Conclusion

• A worrying finding is that less than 1% of women and girls live in countries with high levels of female empowerment and gender equality, while more than 90% of the female population live in countries with significant empowerment deficits and gender gaps.

Tata to set up EV battery factory in UK for £4 billion

Tags: Science and Technology

On 19 July 2023, the Tata group has announced setting up a factory in the United Kingdom with an investment of four billion pounds (Rs 42,500 crore) to make batteries.

An Overview of the news:

• In Britain, the Tata group is working on plans to make batteries for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) as well as other vehicle companies.
• The factory will be located in Bridgwater, Somerset, England:
• Tata Sons has chosen the Bridgwater area of Somerset in south-west England for the factory instead of Spain.

Europe's largest plant: 

• The 40 GWh gigafactory will be the largest in Europe and Tata's first outside India.
• It will be one of the largest investments in the UK automotive industry.
• This Tata investment will not only create thousands of jobs for Britons, but will strengthen the UK's lead in the global transition to electric vehicles, helping to power our economy in the clean industries of the future.

Professor Thalappil Pradeep honoured with Eni Award

Tags: Awards

Professor Thalappil Pradeep of IIT Madras has received the prestigious 'Eni Award' for scientific research in energy and environment.

An Overview of the News 

• The Eni Award was established in 2007 and is a globally recognized honour.

• Professor Pradeep's research focuses on cost-effective and clean water solutions using advanced nanoscale materials.

• His groundbreaking work led to the discovery of sustainable materials that remove toxic pollutants from water.

• These water purification technologies benefit 1.3 million people in India every day.

• The President of Italy will confer the Eni Award on Professor T. Pradeep.

About the Eni Award

• They are awarded in three categories: Energy Transitions, Energy Frontiers and Advanced Environmental Solutions.

• Yu Huang from the University of California (Los Angeles, USA) and Jeffrey R. Long from the University of California (Berkeley, USA) were awarded in the Energy Transition category.

• Matthew Rosensky from the University of Liverpool (UK) received the award in the Energy Frontiers category.

• The primary purpose of the Eni Award is to promote and recognize unprecedented progress in energy efficiency, renewable energy, decarbonization and environmental protection.

• The purpose of this award is to inspire and support the work of young researchers in these important areas.

Events in China: Discussion on the conservation of the Hoolock gibbon

Tags: Environment International News

The meeting took place in Haikou, Hainan province of China from 7 to 9 July. It was organised by the Global Gibbon Network (GGN).

An Overview of the News 

Hoolock Gibbon: The only ape of India

• Previously, scientists believed that there were two species of ape in India: the western hoolock gibbon and the eastern hoolock gibbon.

• A recent study by the Hyderabad-based Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology reveals that India is home to only one ape species, the Hoolock gibbon.

Features of Hoolock Gibbon

• Belonging to the Hylobatidae family, the hoolock gibbon is one of 20 gibbon species on Earth.

• Known for their energetic vocal performances, the population of these apes is estimated to be around 12,000.

• They are the smallest and fastest species of apes, exhibiting high intelligence and strong family bonds.

Distribution and Accommodation

• The hoolock gibbon is native to tropical and subtropical forests in the southeastern part of Asia, including Bangladesh, northeastern India, parts of Myanmar, and southwestern China.

• In India, they are unique in the Northeast between south of the Brahmaputra River and east of the Dibang River.

• Hoolock gibbon populations face a number of threats, including deforestation for infrastructure projects, habitat destruction, hunting for meat, and human encroachment.

Conservation Efforts

• To protect Hoolock gibbons, conservationists have proposed setting up dedicated gibbon wildlife sanctuaries on the lines of Assam.

• Legal protection, limited infrastructure development in their habitats and efforts to control human encroachment and poaching are also necessary.

Conservation Status

• Since the 1990s, the Hoolock gibbon population has declined significantly, leaving all 20 gibbon species at high risk of extinction.

• The IUCN Red List maintains the previous classification, with the eastern hoolock gibbon classified as vulnerable and the western hoolock gibbon as endangered.

• Both species are included in Schedule I of the Indian (Wildlife) Protection Act, 1972.

Global Gibbon Network (GGN)

• Established in 2022 in Haikou, China, GGN aims to protect singing gibbons and their habitats, which are an integral part of Asia's unique natural heritage.

• GGN envisions promoting participatory conservation policies, legislation and actions for gibbon conservation.

Rakesh Pal became the 25th Director General of the ICG

Tags: Person in news

Rakesh Pal has been appointed as the 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). He has the distinction of being the first gunner of ICG.

An Overview of the news:

• Shri Pal is an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy and had joined the Indian Coast Guard in January 1989.
• Mr. Pal has done Electro-Optics Fire Control Solution courses from the United Kingdom.
• Rakesh Pal has served the nation in various capacities in his illustrious career spanning over 34 years. Prominent among them are the post of Commander Coast Guard Region (North West), Gandhinagar, Deputy Director General (Policy and Plans), and Additional Director General, Coast Guard at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi.
• Shri Pal was awarded the Tatrakshak Medal in 2013 and President Tatrakshak Medal in 2018 for his distinguished service.

Nivriti Rai appointed as Managing Director and CEO of Invest India

Tags: Person in news

Renowned global business and technology expert Nivriti Rai has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Invest India.

An Overview of the news:

• Ms Rai takes over from Manmeet K Nanda, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), who assumed the additional charge of MD & CEO in the interim in March 2023.

Career of Nivriti Rai:

• Ms. Rai joins Invest India after an illustrious 29 years of service as a global business and technology veteran at Intel.
• She was leading Intel India as Country Head for the last 07 years and spearheaded Intel's growth and investments in the country.

Promotion of indigenous technology:

• During his tenure at Intel India, he made significant contributions in the areas of indigenous technology development, start-up ecosystem, electronics manufacturing ecosystem and policy making, especially in the areas of critical and emerging technologies.

Awards and Honors:

• Ms. Rai was also conferred with the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar for her outstanding contribution in the field of technology.

Invest India:

• India's National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency.
• Established: 2009 (Carried out as a non-profit enterprise under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry).
• Invest India focuses on sector-specific investor targeting and developing new partnerships to enable sustainable investment in India.
• It leverages private sector experts to meet the government's vision, which includes high standards of transparency, ethics and corporate governance.
• Chairman of the Board of Invest India Secretary of DPIIT: Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Creates Guinness World Record With Fastest Badminton Hit

Tags: Person in news

Indian badminton player Satwiksairaj Rankireddy created a new Guinness World Record for the fastest hit in badminton during the Korea Open 2023.

An Overview of the News 

• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy's smash reached an incredible speed of 565 km/h, breaking a decade-old record previously held by Malaysian player Tan Boon Heong, who clocked 493 km/h.

• The record-breaking event took place at the Yonex factory gym in Soka, Saitama, Japan, and was officially verified by Guinness World Records under controlled conditions.

• Satwik's smash also surpassed the top speed of 372.6 km/h achieved by a Formula 1 car.

• In the women's section, Malaysia's Tan Perli set the Guinness World Record for the fastest women's badminton hit with a remarkable speed of 438 km/h.

• In Korea Open 2023, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and his doubles partner Chirag Shetty defeated Thailand's Supak Jomkoh and Kittinpong Kedren with a score of 21-16, 21-14 to enter the pre-quarterfinals.

• Among all the Indian participants in the Korea Open 2023, Satwik and Chirag were the only players to enter the pre-quarterfinals.

• Korea Open 2023 is scheduled to take place from 18 July 2023 to 23 July 2023. The host city of Korea Open 2023 is Yeosu, South Korea.

About South Korea

• Capital - Seoul

• Prime Minister - Han Duck-soo

• President - Yoon Suk Yeol

• Official languages - Korean, Korean Sign Language